The next morning, Li Yun woke to the sound of two burly guards pounding on the dormitory door, their voices raised in urgent shouts. Bleary-eyed and still groggy, he stumbled from his bed. The guards barked out orders, and after a hasty check of his examinee plaque, they rounded up the remaining candidates once more.

  "Get up, examinees! It's time!" one guard roared, his tone both impatient and commanding. "Don't let anyone linger—if you’re late, you’re finished!"

  Li Yun rubbed his eyes, still disoriented, as the guards herded everyone out. The group, a sea of groggy faces and reluctant energy, began a long descent from the dormitory. Amid murmurs of confusion, many questioned why they were being led back up the mountain instead of to a different venue. Li Yun himself furrowed his brow at the strange order, but the urgency in the guards' voices left him no time for further inquiry.

  Soon, the examinees found themselves ascending a grand set of ancient stone stairs that led high up the mountain. The stairs were lined with weathered carvings and flanked by clusters of ancient trees. The higher they climbed, the thinner the air became; several candidates paused to catch their breath, their lungs working hard to draw in the cool, crisp atmosphere. Still, the climb continued, slow and deliberate, as the guards urged them on with gruff commands.

  At long last, they arrived at a massive coliseum built into the mountainside. The sheer scale of the structure was overwhelming: towering stone walls, engraved with the history of countless disciples, and a vast, open square filled with the roaring cheers of an assembled crowd. The sound was deafening—a relentless, boisterous celebration that swirled around them like a tidal wave. Thousands of voices rose in unison, their cheers and shouts echoing off the ancient stone, nearly distracting the examinees from the task at hand.

  Despite the cacophony, Li Yun’s mind was focused. He could feel the power and weight of the moment, and for the first time, a deep sense of respect stirred within him for the head examiner. When the examiner stepped onto the central platform, a single, mighty gesture silenced the entire coliseum in an instant. In that breathtaking moment, as the crowd fell to a hush, Li Yun experienced a new perspective—an almost reverent respect for the power and simplicity of that act.

  The head examiner’s booming voice filled the square. “Welcome, final examinees, to your Third and Final Exam for the 2nd Class Outer Disciple Rank!” he announced, his tone full of authority and purpose. “Today, we gather under the watchful eyes of the sect leader and his elders to demonstrate your strength. I now introduce you to the Heavenly Cloud Instructors Division—the elite who train every disciple. For this exam, each of you will individually choose one instructor to face in battle. This contest is scored on a point system: one point for blocking an attack, two points for a single hit, and four points for a critical strike. You must score a minimum of five points to be admitted as a Rank 2 Outer Disciple.”

  The examiner paused, letting his words sink in as the roar of the crowd shifted to a nervous murmur. “I wish you all the best of luck!” he concluded, his voice echoing powerfully across the square.

  As the instructors formed an orderly line along the sides of the square, the atmosphere crackled with both anticipation and anxiety. Jiu Tang leaned in toward Li Yun, his voice low and trembling with nervousness. “I’m really worried about these instructors,” he confided. “They’re known to be incredibly strong—what if you can’t handle them?”

  Li Yun merely watched the instructors intently, his eyes narrowing as he studied each one. His mind raced through possibilities, analyzing every movement and posture to decide which one was the strongest. Finally, with a voice that carried both defiance and certainty, he spoke loudly, “I want the instructor who stands second to last—the big muscle woman.” His declaration resonated across the square, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the group; none of his peers wanted to face her, for she was rumored to be unmatched in strength.

  Within moments, as the other examinees began selecting their opponents, the matches commenced. One by one, each individual examinee dueled their chosen instructors. In the first set of matches, eight of the less experienced examinees fell short—their techniques faltering, their scores barely reaching the minimum threshold. Seven, however, managed to secure a passing score with mostly five points, though some even managed six points. Their brief battles were hard-fought, with some blood drawn here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary for such a trial.

  After the matches of the aforementioned disciples concluded, the main group—comprising Li Yun, Jiu Tang, Xu Shuang, Fang Zhen, Bai Meixian, and Lin Ya—prepared to enter their matches. The atmosphere grew thick with intensity as each of them demonstrated their skills in controlled duels that varied in length. Their fights were longer and more intricate, the techniques employed showcasing years of practice and innate talent. Each clash of sword and palm, each block and counter, was a testament to their determination. Yet, when it came time for the final bout, the tension in the square reached its peak.

  All eyes turned to Li Yun as he strode forward. With a deep, resounding shout that echoed throughout the coliseum, he declared, “I choose her—the big muscle woman!” His voice carried across the square, a bold challenge that left even the sect leader momentarily stunned.

  A new system notification immediately pulsed in Li Yun’s mind: [New Objective: Land three consecutive critical hits on the instructor. Reward: Full Bloodline Awakening.]

  Li Yun felt a surge of determination. He knew exactly what he had to do. With a confident stride, he approached the designated instructor—a formidable woman known for her incredible strength and mastery over palm techniques...

  Her stance was firm, her towering frame exuding an overwhelming sense of dominance. Muscles rippled beneath her robe, and her arms, covered in faint scars, bore the marks of countless battles. A smirk played at her lips as she eyed Li Yun, a hint of amusement flickering in her expression.

  “You’ve got guts, kid,” she said, cracking her knuckles. The sound echoed through the coliseum like the snapping of tree branches. “I’ll give you one chance. Walk away now, and I won’t break you.”

  Li Yun merely smiled, his crimson eyes gleaming with confidence. “I don’t need a chance,” he replied coolly. “But I’ll give you one instead—try not to hold back, or you might regret it.”

  The crowd erupted in whispers, surprised by his arrogance. Even the sect leader’s gaze lingered on Li Yun with mild interest.

  The head examiner raised his hand. “Begin!”

  The instructor wasted no time. She lunged forward with explosive speed, her palm glowing with condensed qi. The force of her strike tore through the air, creating a deafening shockwave as it hurtled toward Li Yun’s chest.

  Li Yun barely managed to sidestep, the sheer force of the attack rustling his robes and sending a gust of wind past his face. He felt the heat radiating from her palm—it was no ordinary strike. One direct hit, and he might be finished.

  His grip tightened around his swords. Without hesitation, he activated Shadow Steps, his movement art, vanishing from sight in a blur of speed. Reappearing behind her, he slashed at her exposed side.

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  Clang!

  Her arm shot up, blocking the attack with nothing but her forearm. The impact sent vibrations up Li Yun’s arms, his hands briefly going numb.

  She grinned. “You’re quick. But not quick enough.”

  Before he could react, her other hand came swinging like a hammer. Li Yun barely managed to duck, feeling the force of the strike pass over his head. Dust and debris kicked up from the sheer force of her missed attack, sending small pebbles scattering across the arena floor.

  Li Yun’s mind raced. She’s too strong for direct attacks. I need to be precise.

  He activated Dragon’s Fear, his newly acquired ability, letting his qi radiate with a suffocating intensity. A heavy pressure spread across the battlefield, weighing down on the instructor.

  Her expression faltered for a split second—just enough time for Li Yun to move.

  He surged forward, his crescent mark glowing faintly as his swords flickered in rapid succession. His attacks weren’t meant to overpower her but to force her into a predictable pattern of defense.

  Slash. Block. Slash. Block.

  Her movements became more rigid, more focused on negating his offense rather than attacking.

  Then he saw it—a tiny opening.

  With Shadow Steps, he vanished again, appearing at her unguarded side. His blade flickered like a phantom, striking directly at her ribs—first critical hit!

  She grunted, staggering backward. But Li Yun didn’t let up.

  Before she could recover, his second blade struck her knee joint with surgical precision—second critical hit!

  The instructor’s leg buckled, her balance momentarily lost. Her eyes widened in shock—no examinee had ever pushed her this far before.

  Li Yun didn’t hesitate. Using Shadow Steps one last time, he appeared above her, both swords raised high. His crescent mark flared brightly as he struck down, his blade carving a thin yet deep gash across her shoulder—third consecutive critical hit!

  The arena fell silent.

  The instructor staggered, her breathing heavy, sweat dripping down her forehead. Blood dripped from her shoulder onto the stone floor.

  For the first time in years, she had been defeated in a public match.

  The sect leader leaned forward, his gaze sharpening. “Interesting...” he muttered.

  Then, a chime echoed in Li Yun’s head.

  [Quest Complete: Land three consecutive critical hits on the instructor.]

  [Reward: Full Bloodline Awakening.]

  Li Yun’s vision blurred. A surge of raw power erupted from within him, his qi twisting violently. The air around him distorted as his body trembled, undergoing a transformation far beyond his comprehension.

  His eyes darkened to a deep, abyssal purple. His aura fluctuated wildly, switching between murderous bloodlust and the overwhelming presence of a dragon. The very ground beneath him cracked from the sheer force of his presence.

  Then, the impossible happened.

  Two massive wings sprouted from his back. But they weren’t ordinary wings. One was a swirling mass of pure yin, dark and consuming like an eternal void. The other radiated yang, bright yet ominous, exuding the essence of life and destruction in equal measure.

  The crowd gasped in horror and awe. Even the sect leader stood from his seat, his face betraying genuine surprise.

  The instructor—the mighty woman who had never bowed to any mere student—stumbled backward in sheer terror. Her once-confident smirk had vanished, replaced by an expression of absolute fear.

  She let out a choked gasp. “W-What are you...?”

  Li Yun’s consciousness wavered. His body moved on instinct, driven by an overwhelming hunger for dominance. His wings spread wide, casting a monstrous shadow over the coliseum.

  Then—he lunged.

  The instructor barely had time to react. She raised her arms in a desperate defense, but it was too late.

  Li Yun’s blade sliced through the air, aiming for her throat.

  Boom!

  A massive force slammed into Li Yun’s body, sending him flying backward.

  He crashed into the ground, a deep crater forming beneath him. Dust and debris filled the air.

  A figure stood before him, his presence alone suppressing the chaotic energy that had overtaken the arena.

  It was the sect leader.

  His palm was still outstretched, having been the one to intercept Li Yun’s final attack. But even he looked slightly shaken, his sleeves fluttering from the lingering force of his counter.

  Li Yun tried to stand, but his limbs refused to move. His vision blurred, his strength draining rapidly. A wave of exhaustion crashed over him as his body collapsed.

  The last thing he heard was the sect leader’s deep, commanding voice.

  “Take him. Now.”

  Darkness swallowed him whole.

  Li Yun’s mind drifted in darkness, weightless, caught between the realm of consciousness and oblivion.

  Faint murmurs echoed around him, muffled voices that sounded both distant and near. His body ached—not the dull pain of overexertion but the deep, consuming fatigue of something far greater.

  His bloodline.

  The awakening had taken a toll beyond his expectations. Even now, he could feel the remnants of that overwhelming energy coursing through his veins, unstable and unrefined.

  Then, a presence—powerful, vast, and ancient—called out to him from the depths of his mind.

  You are not yet ready...

  The voice rumbled like a storm, shaking the very foundation of his consciousness.

  Before he could react, a wave of pure force dragged him deeper into the abyss.

  Li Yun shot upright, gasping for air.

  His surroundings were different. Gone was the grand coliseum, the roaring crowds, the blood-stained battlefield.

  Instead, he found himself inside a lavish chamber, bathed in soft golden light. The walls were carved from shimmering jade, and intricate celestial runes lined the pillars that supported the ceiling. A gentle breeze carried the scent of incense, calming yet strangely suffocating.

  A massive open balcony lay ahead, revealing a breath-taking view of the sect’s highest peak, shrouded in mist and perched above the clouds.

  He was in the sect leader’s personal abode.

  Realization struck him like a hammer. How did he get here?

  The last thing he remembered was... unleashing his bloodline. The power. The fear in his instructor’s eyes. The sect leader intervening.

  He touched his back instinctively—no wings. They had vanished. But he could still feel the lingering sensation, as if they were merely hidden beneath his skin, waiting to emerge again.

  What the hell happened to me?

  Before he could process further, a deep voice resonated through the chamber.

  “So, you’re finally awake.”

  Li Yun turned his head sharply.

  Seated across from him, behind a low wooden table, was a man draped in flowing silver robes. His presence alone seemed to command the very air around him. A single glance was enough to tell—this was no ordinary cultivator.

  It was the sect leader.

  He observed Li Yun with an unreadable expression, his piercing gaze carrying the weight of centuries. In his hand was a porcelain teacup, untouched, yet the steam still swirled in mesmerizing patterns, manipulated by his faint qi.

  Li Yun swallowed. For the first time in a long time, he felt... small.

  This wasn’t some instructor or elder. This was the highest authority in the Heavenly Cloud Sect—the strongest cultivator in the entire sect, second only to the true titans of the cultivation world.

  And he was staring directly at Li Yun.

  A tense silence stretched between them before the sect leader finally spoke again.

  “You are reckless,” he said, his tone measured yet sharp. “Do you have any idea what you did in that arena?”

  Li Yun didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, trying to keep his composure. “I passed the exam,” he replied coolly.

  A flicker of amusement passed through the sect leader’s eyes. “That, you did,” he admitted. “But you also nearly killed your instructor, defied an elder’s intervention, and unleashed a power that even I had to personally suppress.”

  Li Yun tensed. So it wasn’t a dream.

  The power he had awakened—it was real. Too real.

  “What exactly did I awaken?” he finally asked, voice low.

  The sect leader studied him for a long moment before setting his cup down. He leaned forward slightly, his expression serious. “A question even you don’t have an answer to?”

  Li Yun didn’t respond.

  The sect leader exhaled through his nose. “Then listen well, Li Yun,” he said. “Because what I’m about to tell you will determine whether you live to see your full potential... or crumble under the weight of your own power.”

  ''And I suggest you choose wisely young one.''

  ''Otherwise you'll deeply regret your actions as you lay on the ground dying and bleeding wishing you took my advice...''